TOM Williamson, a 21 year old triathlete from Saintfield, has had an outstanding debut season on the international stage, proudly representing Ireland on the World Triathlon Para circuit.
Competing across three continents, Tom has consistently delivered strong performances, never finishing outside the top six in any of his nine races, and securing five podium finishes along the way.
In his most recent achievement, just last week, Tom reached a significant milestone in his career by securing his first major championship podium at the European Para Triathlon Championships in Vichy, France, on 22 September.
After a 750m river swim, he led the race out of the water, followed by a powerful 20km bike ride and a solid 5km run, crossing the finish line in third place with an impressive time of 00:57:06. It was an incredible result in the highly competitive PTS5 category.
Reflecting on his success, Tom said, “It feels incredible to stand on a major championship podium. The swim and bike went really well, and I managed to hold it together on the run to get the result. It’s a big step forward for me.”
He added, “Although I was disappointed not to make it to Paris, I never stopped working. I simply refocused, and here we are!”
A proud member of Down Triathlon Club, Tom’s journey hasn’t been without its challenges. Just a year ago, he was recovering from a fractured wrist and a dislocated collarbone, injuries that kept him out of action for part of the season.
“The injury set me back, but it also gave me the motivation to come back stronger, and I’m proud of how far I’ve come,” he said.
Tom goes on to explain why growing up in county Down gave him the right grounding to compete at the highest level.